A short story on Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
Max and Freak are walking along a new sidewalk that they discovered. The further they walked, the chillier and windier it got. Slowly, the color of the cement warped into red. The cement turned into red metal. When Max looked down, he saw cars and the ocean. There were also some jagged rocks sticking out from the clear-yet-murky water. Around him was the red metal and chords holding up beams and a road. The Golden Gate Bridge. Freak gasps.
βIβve always wanted to go to San Francisco and see the Golden Gate Bridge with Fair Gwen!β He exclaims, βI never imagined being on top thoughβ¦ How did we get here?β
Freak continues looking around in excitement and confusion.
βAnd how do we get back?β Max asks the million-dollar question.
Freak shrugs nonchalantly, not concerned.
βWho cares? Weβre at the Golden Gate Bridge,β he says.
Max sighs.
βWhat about Grim, Gram, and Fair Gwen? Theyβre going to be worried about us when we donβt come home,β he retorts, βStaying here is not an option.β
Freak continues to look around, and pulls out a polaroid camera.
βJust one quick photo,β Freak insists.
Max sighs.
βOk, fine,β he says.
Once the photo is snapped, Max realizes the problem.
βWe still donβt know how to get home,β he says.
Freak sighs. Magically, a portal appears, close enough for Freak and Max to jump into.
βWaitβ¦We donβt know where this leads,β Freak points out.
Max sighs once more.
βWe need to get home. Letβs just take the risk,β he says, deciding it was worth it.
Taking deep breaths, Freak and Max blindly jump into the portal. There is a blinding light, and Max opens his eyes slowly, looking around.
βWHOOHOO!β He whoops, βWeβre back home!β
Freak looks around as well and sees they are back on the sidewalk that they started on. No Golden Gate Bridge in sight.
βYay!β Freak says, a little disappointed that they arenβt at the Golden Gate Bridge anymore.
Or anywhere else. He was hoping for an adventure. Maybe go to a magical land, like in Lion Witch, and the Wardrobe. They begin walking back home again. Once they reach their homes, they wave goodbye.
βThat sort of an adventure,β Freak says.
Max nods at him.
βIt was sorta fun,β he says.
Freak smiles and waves. Once Freak goes inside, he sees Fair Gwen sitting on their couch reading a novel. The title says Crown of Thorns by Evelyn Carmine. Sounds like an adult book.
βHi Fair Gwen,β Freak greets his mother, whoβs real name is Gwen.
Fair Gwen waves at him.
βHey Kevin!β She says.
Fair Gwen didnβt notice my absence, Freak thinks and then goes to his room and opens his dictionaryβ¦
Max enters his home and sees Grim and Gram, his grandparents. They are watching television.
βHey Grim! Hey Gram!β Max greets them.
They showed no signs of noticing he was a little late. Max looks at the clock. 4:32. Two minutes late. That’s ok. Gram waves and smiles.
βHi Max!β She says.
Grim grunts.
βHey Max,β He says, then looks back at the TV. Max goes down to his room and lays on the bed. Closing his eyes, he slowly falls asleep. Today was a long day, Max thinks tiredly.
Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice 